Back from the retreat!

This past weekend I attended a needlework retreat in Laurel, Maryland sponsored by Michelle Ink Designs, The Hang-Up, and In Stitches in Alexandria, Virginia.  This year I was attending alone, as Jill was not able to go, but within minutes of me arriving and signing in and sitting at a table alone I was "adopted" by the most wonderful, generous, and hilarious group of women!

Day 1:

- I arrived at the retreat about 2:30 p.m., signed in, and began stitching.  The stitching lounge was open until 11:00 p.m. that night.  We had a wonderful dinner of three kinds of chili, bread, and all kinds of snacks.  I started to learn more about the women who adopted me, and we talked until the lounge closed for the night.

This was my first night in a hotel room by myself!  Verdict...awesome!!! Once, of course, I figured out how to close the curtains so it was not lit up like the 4th of July all night, which I did not figure out until the NEXT morning!  So, not a good night's sleep the first night.  I was up until about 2am and awake at 7am. 

Day 2

The lounge opened at 7am.  Today was also the day I was going to see the needlework show at the Montpelier mansion.  And Jill was coming up for the day to attend the show and stitch.  Made a trip to Starbucks for a Caffe Mocha, and then back to the hotel for breakfast and more stitching.  The retreat hosts had a boutique set up and each time I walked in I saw the wonderful Lizzie Kate 6 Fat Men and Snow Belles all stitched up, with everything there ready to purchase, patterns, fabric, and thread.  I did not cave...yet!

Jill arrived at 11:30 and as a group we all went to the mansion for the needlework show and then Jill and I went to lunch ourselves at Don Pablo's.  Wonderful food!!!!  Jill stayed the rest of the day, until 10pm, and we stitched and talked and laughed.  I went up to my room soon after and was only awake until midnight.

Day 3

This was the last day and we had to be out of our rooms by noon, and the stitching lounge was open from 8am to 4pm.  I was out of bed, packed and ready by 8:30 a.m.  After another trip to Starbucks I went to the stitching lounge and decided to splurge and get the entire kit for the 6 Fat Men, and I managed to get the word "snowmen" stitched by the time the retreat ended.  We all went to Einstein Bagels for lunch and then stitched and all went our separate ways.

The weekend ended much too quickly!  I so look forward to next year's retreat already!

Here are some pics I took.

My hotel room.

A pic of some of the ladies.  Cathy, Wiff, Debbie, and another lady who I do not remember her name!

Jill, Darlene, and Dorothy in the background.

Diane and Terry busily stitching away.

I also purchased one of these great Walter color mesh bags in the 9 by 12 size.  Perfect to hold everything for a project.  I found the Walker website yesterday and ordered one more from them directly.

And my progress on 6 Fat Men.  The fabric is much more a warm brown in real life.  

Until next time...